2025 Canadian National Championship

CANADA NAMES NEW CHAMPION
AT 2025 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Chisholm leads wire-to-wire as CANFOIL Week delivers another landmark edition in Halifax

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — October 2025 (Tyler Bjorn)

Canada’s next generation of dinghy foilers descended on Halifax this October for the fourth edition of CANFOIL Week, the country’s premier foiling development camp and 2025 national championship. Hosted by the WeCANFoil program in partnership with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, the week-long event once again combined high-performance training with championship racing to crown the 2025 Canadian WASZP Champion.

Over 20 sailors participated in this year’s edition, exploring nearly every form of foiling on offer,  from IQ foils and wing foils to tow sessions on calm mornings and, of course, WASZP racing once the breeze arrived. The coaching lineup reflected the growing depth of Canadian foiling talent, featuring professional foiler Max Robinson, SailGP veteran Billy Gooderham, Canadian coach Sue Fraser, WASZP stalwart Jackson Macaulay, and the ever-present Agustine Ferrario, head coach of WeCANFoil.

Over the past four years, CANFOIL Week has evolved into a cornerstone of Canada’s foiling development pathway, a training hub that has helped feed programs like SailGP’s NorthStar, and the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup teams. This year’s event not only decided the 2025 national title, but also determined Canada’s qualification spot for the 2026 WASZP Sprint Championship, an international invitational boasting $10,000 in prize money.

Chisholm Charges to His First National Title

Day One belonged to Andrew Chisholm, the newly crowned U19 WASZP Games Champion, who opened the event with three bullets and a third-place finish to seize an early lead, one he never let go.

“Andrew put in an incredible amount of time and effort this year,” said BJORN. “He’s been traveling across Europe and North America, training at multiple camps, and that effort clearly paid off — from winning the U19 WASZP Games Title to now taking his first national title. Truly an impressive performance for a young sailor with professional foiling ambitions on the horizon.”

Chisholm’s dominance wasn’t unchallenged. Veteran WASZP sailor and coach Jackson Macaulay, himself a former national champion, pushed hard throughout the week, juggling his own racing with coaching responsibilities during CANFOIL Week. Macaulay ultimately finished just two points shy of the crown.

“Andrew certainly put in a lot of time this year,” Macaulay said. “He was simply too fast this week. I almost caught him, but ultimately, he earned it — and I’m really happy for him.”

Ruch, Thompson, and De Pas Round Out the Podium Battle

Callum Ruch continued his strong late-season form by claiming the bronze medal, his second podium in as many weeks after finishing third at the inaugural Quebec WASZP Championship, the class’s first-ever provincial title event. Ruch has been a consistent performer throughout 2025 as part of the U21 North American WASZP Team, and his results have made him one of Canada’s rising stars in the class.

“I’ve learned so much this week,” said Ruch. “The coaches here at CANFOIL Week have been awesome, and training hard this season with my U21 teammates really pushed my skills to a new level. I can’t wait for 2026.”

Despite missing the opening day due to academic commitments, Ethan Thompson delivered an inspired comeback to finish fourth overall, a performance that underscored both his natural talent and commitment.

“Sometimes my priorities have to be academics,” Thompson said. “But I was really glad to get here and just give it my best. Finishing fourth after missing four races feels great — I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026.”

Fifth place went to fan favorite Adrien De Pas, whose trademark consistency and infectious energy have made him a familiar name on the U21 circuit. De Pas, another member of the North American U21 WASZP Team, has shown steady improvement all year and continues to anchor the class’s youthful core.

Poole Leads the Charge for Women’s Foiling

Defending champion Grace Poole made the long journey from British Columbia to Halifax to defend her 2024 crown. Though she finished sixth overall, Poole’s focus has already shifted to a bigger stage — the 2026 WASZP Women’s World Championship, where she aims to lead the Canadian contingent.

Her presence, along with the growing participation of women across the national circuit, underscores how the class continues to evolve and expand its inclusivity across Canada.

Looking Ahead: Nova Scotia’s Foiling Future Shines Bright

With 12 WASZPs representing sailors from coast to coast, this year’s nationals reinforced Nova Scotia’s role as a national foiling hub and a key driver of the sport’s growth. The week also saw the launch of a new leadership group for the Canadian WASZP Class, led by Class Manager Tyler Bjorn.

“We had a great leadership team coming out of the blocks in 2022,” said Bjorn. “Now, as the class grows and new sailors step up, we’re entering an exciting new phase. With fresh leadership, expanding programs, and the return of SailGP circuit to Canada, the foiling pathway has never looked stronger.”

The future certainly looks fast. Nova Scotia is set to host both the 2026 Canadian Championships and the North American WASZP Championships, while the SailGP circuit returns to Halifax in June, bringing world-class foiling action back to Canadian waters.

New hubs are forming, new sailors are joining, and the excitement continues to build — proof that the WASZP class is not only alive and thriving in Canada but is shaping the next chapter of foiling worldwide.